Mandrake 8.2: can't create a filesystem

[Zulithe]

Hi. I'm a linux newb, I've installed Red Hat in the past, but I can't get this Mandrake to install (kinda surprised me, i heard Mandrake was supposed to be even easier than Red Hat)

I burned the 8.2 ISO, put the disc in the drive, rebooted, and the install screen comes up. It goes fine until it gets to the "setup filesystem" part of the install. I get this error:

"An Error Occurred
No valid devices on which to create a new filesystem. Please check your hardware for the cause of this problem."

What do you think the problem could be? Here is the situation with the HDD i'm using...

It's a 30 gig, with about 18~ gigs of music on it. I partitioned the drive to where I had 10 gigs of free space (for the linux install) and the remaining left for the music to reside on. Apparently I did something wrong, because Mandrake does not like the way I set it up. :(

I've tried:
*deleting the 10gig partition, leaving it as 'unpartitioned space' but mandrake gives the same error.

*booted with the 10gig partition as the primary partition and the 18~ gig partition as extended

I suppose if I just clean formated the entire drive that it would install fine (at least I hope so... or else the problem lies elsewhere) but I would like to avoid that at any cost.

Please, any and all help is appreciated!

[Zulithe]

A little about my hardware specs...

AMD Athlon 800mhz
128mb SDRAM

The HDD in question is a Maxtor 51024U2

[mdwatts]

Is your HD detected correctly in the system bios?

Is this HD the only drive and is it set on primary master?

[Zulithe]

Originally posted by mdwatts
Is your HD detected correctly in the system bios?

Is this HD the only drive and is it set on primary master? Thanks for your reply!

I had the HDD set to 'cable select' that is why mandrake did not detect it correctly. I set it to Master, and then it installed.

However, now I have a new problem. :(

When instaling Mandrake, everything was going well. When it asked me to select my mouse, I selected Microsoft USB, it brought up a little picture of my mouse to test the buttons. When I clicked the buttons, they lit up, showing me that it was working.

Well, once the install was done, it brought me to a screen to log in for the first time.

"Welcome to local host", the box said.
It had a place to type in my username/password

But I could not because my keyboard and mouse did not work. They cursor was blinking, so I know that the PC wasn't 'frozen'. Strange, because both the keyboard and the mouse worked durring the install.

I'm using:
Microsoft USB Intellimouse Explorer
Compaq USB Keyboard (Standard 102-Key) model SDM4540UL

:( Any advice?
If it helps, I installed using only the first two CDs, not the third. It said the second and third were optional... but I am about to download the third and try a fresh install.

[Zulithe]

Hmm, I saw the link in your sig and gave it a try.

I came up with this link:
http://www.linux-mandrake.com/en/errata.php3#usbmouse

it says:

Error scenario: During installation, the USB mouse is recognized and works fine on the console, but dies when a GUI is started, leaving a cursor in the middle of the screen.
Why: The XF86Config file is properly setup but the input devices do not include the necessary translation from mouse to usbmouse. This has been verified on the BP810 Chipset FLEX ATX motherboard, but happen on other hardware sets.
Solution: Edit /etc/modules.conf as root and add the following line:

alias mouse usbmouse

Save the file and reboot the system using the "reboot" command as root.
Maybe this is the cause of my problem? but how can I log in as root if the keyboard also doesn't work, heh

[mdwatts]

I've read here and elsewhere that you need to use a ps/2 keyboard at least for the installation and then you should be able to switch to usb after.

See if Mandrake has any documentation on this. I'm sure they must.

[Zulithe]

Originally posted by mdwatts
I've read here and elsewhere that you need to use a ps/2 keyboard at least for the installation and then you should be able to switch to usb after.

See if Mandrake has any documentation on this. I'm sure they must. Thanks again for your reply.

I have a usb to ps/2 converter, I tried putting it on my keyboard but it does not seem to work O_o

It is designed for my microsoft intellimouse (it came with it) but doesn't seem to work with my mouse.

I have a ps/2 mouse though, I used it through the install. But, yet again, I have the same problem. At certain points the mouse stops working, even though I made very sure to select serial mouse durring the install process.

Durring install the mouse did not work at first, I had to use the keyboard. Once it go to the point where I could select the type of mouse I had, THEN the mouse worked. When it got to the part where I had to pick my monitor/resolution/video card, when I "tested" the video resolution (it brings up a colorful background with a penguin on it and asks me if it is correct, and has yes or no options, i'm sure you know what part I mean) when it shows that background the mouse stops working, but I can use the keyboard to tap to the "yes" or "no", once it is back to the previous screen where you select the monitor/resolution/video card... the mouse works again! So strange O_o

After messing with it, I finally get to where I can boot into KDE, but the mouse and keyboard both do not work... (again)

I'll keep looking for information on getting them to work O_o but I'm a real newb at this, and it's getting frustrating.

[JohnT]

"I have a ps/2 mouse though, I used it through the install. But, yet again, I have the same problem. At certain points the mouse stops working, even though I made very sure to select serial mouse durring the install process."

Try selecting "PS2 mouse" rather than serial during this phase of set-up.

[mdwatts]

Zulithe... You're selecting a serial mouse during the install? As JohnT suggested, select ps/2 instead of serial.

You may also want to check your bios settings for usb and ps/2 and ensure both are enabled and set to use a irq.

[Zulithe]

Originally posted by mdwatts
Zulithe... You're selecting a serial mouse during the install? As JohnT suggested, select ps/2 instead of serial.

You may also want to check your bios settings for usb and ps/2 and ensure both are enabled and set to use a irq. No I am not selecting serial mouse durring install. When I tried to install using the ps/2 mouse, i made sure to select ps/2 durring mouse config (i may be a newb, but not totally stupid)

I'm still trying to get it working, reading various docs to gather what I need... I'll post a followup in this thread when and if I get it working O_o

I've already looked through my BIOS and they are enabled (were enabled by default also)